"Sandin-Pellikka was the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and adjusted to the style of game in America quite well. Last season, the 5-foot-11 and 176-pound Sandin-Pellikka had a cup of coffee with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) to get him adjusted to the smaller ice surface. He got used to it quickly and showed why he belonged in the NHL."
"Brandsegg-Nygard was the most impressive of the three in training camp and preseason. The 6-foot-1 and 198-pound forward was chosen 15th overall in 2024 and has risen to the top of the pro gamme rather quickly. Already boasting an NHL shot, he tied for the lead in postseason goals (4) and points (7). A legit top-six forward, he is a shoot-first player who also plays with grit. He is a welcome addition who should do quite well this season."
Detroit is inserting three young players into the season-opening lineup: forwards Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Emmitt Finnie, and defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Sandin-Pellikka, the 17th overall pick in 2023, adapted quickly to North American ice during an AHL stint and projects as an offensive defenseman who can run the power play while improving his decision-making across all three zones. Brandsegg-Nygard, the 15th overall pick in 2024, displayed an NHL-caliber shot, produced goals and points in preseason play, and profiles as a gritty, shoot-first top-six forward. Finnie, a seventh-round pick in 2023, earned a rare camp-to-roster spot despite an uneven preseason showing.
Read at Puck Prose
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